Abstract
Introduction. The Tanner scale and the Prader orchidometer are the instruments most commonly used to assess pubertal development in children. The assessment of puberty in the clinic is only useful if recent and reliable references in the same population are available for comparison. Objective: to assess the correlation between Tanner stages and testicular volume (TV) in Argentine adolescents. Population and methods. Study with a descriptive, cross-sectional design conducted in healthy boys aged 9-20 years. Male children and adolescents with urogenital conditions and disorders affecting testicular growth were excluded. The correlation between Tanner stages and TV was assessed using non-parametric tests. Results. A total of 367 male adolescents with an average age of 13.8 ± 2.5 years were assessed. TV increased in correlation to Tanner stages (Spearman: 0.943, p<0.001)withsignificantlydifferent volumes, except in the early genital 1-2 stages (p 0.343) and pubic hair 1-2 stages (p 0.447). Among peripubertalboys,16%(95%confidenceinterval:9.6-24.4%,n=17/106)werewronglyclassifiedbasedon Tanner stages. Conclusions. During male puberty, TV increased in correlation to Tanner stages, but no significantdifferences were observed between Tanner stages 1 and 2. Using the Prader orchidometer is critical to establish the onset of puberty in boys.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.